Norway solution ‘would put Brexit UK in single market but not under ECJ’

UK wrong to play down independence of European Free Trade Association from EU’s jurisdication, says head of Efta court

A Norway-style arrangement would give the post-Brexit UK access to the single market and not lead to fights between Britain and the European court of justice, the head of the Efta court that oversees single market countries outside the EU claimed today.

Carl Baudenbacher accused the British government of giving a distorted and inaccurate account of the extent to which his court can act independently of the ECJ. “Politicians and diplomats had difficulty in understanding the true relationship between the Efta court and the ECJ,” he said, adding “there is no risk of the ECJ becoming involved in a gunfight with Efta”.